Cops: Pedestrians, joggers targeted in series of paintball shootings in Haverford

HAVERFORD -- Police are looking for the person or persons responsible for taking aim at pedestrians and joggers with a paintball gun.

"There have been two incidents recently which we are classifying as simple assaults," said Haverford police Sgt. Shant Bedrossian.

The first occurred the evening of Nov. 21 in the 1700 block of Darby Road. "A couple of students were walking home around 10:25 p.m. when someone in a white vehicle sprayed them with paintball fire," Bedrossian said. "One of the juveniles was struck in the right side of the head above the ear."

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Bedrossian said the boy refused medical treatment.

The second attack happened Nov. 26 in the 800 block of Ardmore Avenue.

"An adult female jogger was heading east on Ardmore Avenue at about 7:10 p.m. when she was struck by a paintball that came from a light-colored SUV," Bedrossian said, adding that three pellets were recovered from the scene.

About 15 minutes after the jogger was hit, police received a report of paintball shots coming from a red car in the same area.

"Right now, it's an open investigation," Bedrossian said. "We have no description of the suspects and minimal information on the vehicles."

Bedrossian said the victims were lucky to escape injury.

"Somebody could have been seriously hurt, especially if they got hit around the eyes or the ears," he said.